Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1004

French and Revolutionary wars. Of Scotch-Irish, English and Welsh descent, they intermarried with the Baldwin, Beecher, Bridgman, Stiles, Sperry and the "Black" Douglas families. In 1789 David Hotchkiss founded Windsor, N. Y., where his great-grandson, Jedediah Hotchkiss, was born November 28, 1828, the son of Stiles and Lydia (Beecher) Hotchkiss. A graduate of the Windsor academy, he completed his classical studies with his pastor; in 1846 taught his first school at Lykens Valley, Pa., and in 1847 made a pedestrian tour through Virginia. He was so pleased that he returned to engage as a tutor at Mossy Creek, Augusta county, where he built the well-known Mossy Creek academy. He was teaching the Loch Willow school when war began in 1861. He then offered his services to General Garnett as topographical engineer, and was assigned to duty under Colonel Heck on July 2d, on Rich mountain. He at once made a survey for a map, but the position was soon evacuated, Hotchkiss serving as adjutant on the retreat. When General Lee reorganized the army in August, 1861, at Valley mountain, Hotchkiss joined him, and when his map of Tygart's valley was completed, General Lee's campaign opened. From exposure and overwork he contracted typhoid fever, that scourge of the West Virginia camps, and was sent home, to Churchville, to suffer for many weeks. General Lee went to South Carolina, but Hotchkiss prepared the maps of this campaign upon his recovery. In March, 1862, previous to the battle of Kernstown, he joined the staff of Gen. Stonewall Jackson, and was assigned to duty, with the rank of captain, as topographical engineer of the Valley district, department of Virginia. Most comprehensive were General Jackson's first instructions: "Prepare a map showing all points of offense and defense in the Shenandoah valley from the Potomac to Lexington." This work being under way. Captain Hotchkiss was sent to choose a line of defense. He selected Stony Creek, where Jackson fell back. Then encamping near Swift Run gap, he sent his engineer to burn some bridges, in doing which he narrowly escaped capture. In constant motion, the captain ascended the peak of Massanutton, communicating with Jackson by signals of his own devising, thus using for the first time in the valley a method common in later campaigns. His return was greeted by, "Good; very good," from his leader. The unwearied engineer placed artillery, led skirmishes, made maps, and one night rode sixty miles to block Dry and North River gaps. He rode forty-six miles to Front Royal to report Banks' operations, led Ashby's attack at Middletown, and was on duty in the pursuit to Winchester. On May 25th he rode with Jackson at the head of his troops through Winchester, and rallied the citizens to extinguish the fires the foe had kindled. After pushing on to Harper's Ferry, Loudoun Heights and Winchester, by hard rides, he brought the Stonewall brigade back from picket duty at Charlestown to Kernstown, and helped save the captured stores in wagons, while Jackson opposed the pursuing forces. From Massanutton he again signaled the movements of Shields and McDowell. Captain Hotchkiss led General Taylor's brigade in a flank movement at Port Republic around the Federal left through the woods, also in the attack that decided the battle, and when the fight was over selected a camp beyond Fremont's battery fire. Serving in the battle of Cross Keys he prepared a map of the field. While Jackson went to Rich-